On paper, it will go down as just another win. In the film room, it will look like something very different to the Hoosiers (15-1, 3-0 Big Ten).

“A year ago, we’d have been ecstatic with that victory and I want them to enjoy it, but we have different expectation levels now,” Coach Tom Crean said. “We have a lot of room for improvement. Where it takes the next step is when players understand they can play better, and I think they do.”

Inside Assembly Hall, the consensus was simple: It never should have been this close.

Victor Oladipo scored 20 points and had six rebounds but fouled out after fouling a 3-point shooter for the third time in the game. Jordan Hulls knocked down four 3s and finished with 19 points, but he missed three free throws during Minnesota’s closing run. Cody Zeller had 18 points, six rebounds and three blocks, but the Hoosiers’ vaunted bench went 0 for 8 from the field and finished with only three points.

The mistakes allowed Minnesota (15-2, 3-1) to trim a 23-point halftime lead to 13 early in the second half and cut a 15-point deficit to three with 19 seconds to go.

Butler guard Rotnei Clarke hit the padded backboard support hard after an intentional foul in the first half and was taken off the court on a stretcher. He was moving his legs and gave a thumbs-up sign as he left the court.

(16) SAN DIEGO STATE 79, COLORADO STATE 72: Chase Tapley scored 12 of his 19 points in overtime, and the Aztecs (14-2, 2-0 Mountain West) held off the Rams (13-3, 0-1) at San Diego.

CONNECTICUT 65, (17) NOTRE DAME 58: Shabazz Napier scored 19 points, Tyler Olander scored 12 of his career-high 16 points in the second half and the Huskies (12-3, 2-1 Big East) ended the game with a 7-0 run to beat Notre Dame (14-2, 2-1) at South Bend, Ind.

(18) KANSAS STATE 65, WEST VIRGINIA 64: Shane Southwell made two free throws with 21 seconds left, then blocked Gary Browne’s layup attempt with a second left to preserve a win for the Wildcats (13-2, 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (8-7, 1-2).

(19) GEORGETOWN 67, ST. JOHN’S 51: Otto Porter had 19 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, and the Hoyas (11-3, 1-2 Big East) broke out of their scoring funk with a victory over St. John’s (9-7, 1-3) at New York.

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